Last weekend saw a number of surprises in the Liga Dimayor. Each of the top three teams in the league all lost, there was a derby in Cali, whilst Independiente Medellín made it six games unbeaten. With Copa Colombia action taking place in midweek, let’s look back on last weekend’s headlines in the league.
A Mixed Return to América for Guimaraes
Alexandre Guimaraes returned as América de Cali coach in Clásico Vallecaucano, following the departure of Juan Carlos Osorio from the Escarlatas. Emotional tributes were made to commemorate the recent passing of Colombian national team and América de Cali hero Freddy Rincón.
Teófilo Gutiérrez opened the scoring for Deportivo in the 67th minute. But just 10 minutes later, Adrián Ramos scored from the penalty spot for América, to finish a 1-1 draw in Cali.
AMÉ 🆚 CAL [1-1]
|90’ +5’ ⏱| EL CLÁSICO VALLECAUCANO FINALIZA CON EMPATE EN EL PASCUAL GUERRERO. 🇦🇹#AMÉxCAL pic.twitter.com/nH85m8DS9D
— América de Cali (@AmericadeCali) April 18, 2022
The draw leaves defending champions Deportivo Cali, who were beaten in the Copa Colombia by Fortaleza last night, second from bottom – despite being unbeaten in their previous five league games.
Shocks and Surprises in the Top Three
The surprise of the week is easily awarded to 16th-placed Aguilas Doradas, for their 1-0 victory over league leaders Nacional de Medellín. Cristian Marrugo’s 79th minute penalty was enough to seal the home victory and move Las Aguilas onto 18 points.
Luckily for Nacional, the teams chasing their lead also suffered defeats.
Millonarios lost 1-0 at home to Deportvio Pereira, moving them into 14th place and away from the perils of the bottom. Santiago Montoya arrived with the winning goal in the 80th minute for the home side.
•Fecha 16• Así celebró Santiago Montoya su primer gol con el Grande Matecaña 🎩❤️💛#JuntosConstruimosElGrandeMatecaña pic.twitter.com/tW81B3gEJU
— Deportivo Pereira (@Corpereira) April 18, 2022
It leaves Millonarios with four defeats so far this season, with three of those coming in their last five matches.
Tolima came into their game with Deportivo Pasto in fine form, having won their previous three games and sitting just a point off top spot. But Pasto showed up with intent to restrict their free-flowing football and steal a goal on the counter attack. Duvier Riascos picked up his 7th goal of the season with a strike in the 74th minute, sealing a famous away win for Pasto and moving them up to 15th place.
Best of the Rest
Junior de Barranquilla hold their position in 5th place and continue to be an ‘all or nothing’ team, with eight wins, six defeats and just two draws.
At the weekend, they registered a comfortable 2-0 victory over Atlético Bucaramanga. Daniel Giraldo and Miguel Borja picked up the goals for Los Tiburones, who sit on 26 points.
🦈¡Imágenes del triunfo 2-0 ante Bucaramanga que nos mantienen con las ganas de seguir luchando por el objetivo! #VamosJunior🔴⚪️🔵 pic.twitter.com/kvWEynWU5B
— Club Junior FC (@JuniorClubSA) April 17, 2022
With just three or four games left in the Liga Dimayor, those teams on the brink of missing out for qualifying will need to up their game over the next few weeks.
